Monitoring Findings of "Kock" SHPP (Photos)

EcoLur

In the frames of "Supporting New Reforms in SHPP Sector through CSO-Government Dialogue" project, the expert group visited "Kock" SHPP, which is located in the administrative area of Lusadzor Community, Tavush Region, Armenia. The SHPP is constructed on the transboundary Aghstev River, the length of which is 133 km, while its length in Armenia is 99 km. "Kock" SHPP is operated by " Kock " LLC. As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:

• "Kock " SHPP has been developed since 2017.• The SHPP hasn't undergone environmental impact assessment, as RA Law 'On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise' says that SHPPs with up to 1 MW capacity are not subject to environmental impact assessment.• According to the water usage permit, SHPP water intake coordinates are Х=45009'37,5'', Y=40055'51'', according to the water usage permit and Public Service Regulatory Committee, the mark of the upper canal pound is H=599m (PSRC certificate dated on 1 April 2017). Water discharge coordinates Х=45009'54.1'', Y=40056'24,4'', the mark of the lower canal pound is H=581m; according to the water usage permit and the Public Service Regulatory Committee.• According to PSRC, the estimated pressure of the SHPP is 12.25, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 10 m3/s, according to the PSRC certificate, while the projected capacity is 973 kW. As the company says, it ensured maximum 840 kW projected capacity. According to the PSRC certificate issued on 1 April 2017, the factual useful delivery of the electricity shall make 5.9 million kWh.• Duration of SHPP license - 16.03.2016- 16.03.2019, i.e. the beginning and end of the construction, end of electricity production period - 16.03.2034, the company has filed an application to receive water usage permit.• There is a concrete overfall dam in the head section. The relevant acclivity of the dam was not ensured, so SHPP administration was proposed to lower the right-sided level of the dam, which would ensure stable waterfall for the environmental flow, which was accepted by the administration.• There is a stair-like (cascade) concrete fish passway in the SHPP head section 30.40 m long, 1.20-1.50m wide. There are 12 stairs, each of which forms a small pond nearly 50 cm high and wide, where the height of water column makes up 10-50 cm. The distance between the river surface and the first stair of the fish passway is 60 cm, which creates additional difficulties for the movement of small fish species in the river. In general, the fish passway in the head section could have ensured natural movement of the fish living in the river, if the first stair was equal to the river surface.• There is garbage-collecting net 10.5 cm long, and the distance between its bars is 3 cm, while such distance between the bars can’t prevent the entrance of 15-centimeter-long fish in the pipeline.• In the section of the river, where the SHPP head section is constructed, the following fish species were recorded based on the studies carried out in 2016-2017:1. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta fario) (met accidentally)2. The South Caspian sprilin (Alburnoides eichwaldii)3. Kura barbell (Barbus cyri)4. Mursa (Luciobarbus mursa)5. The Kura loach (Oxynօemacheilus brandtii)6. North Caucasian bleak (Alburnus hohenackeri)7. The Kura bleak (Alburnus filippii)8. The squalius (Squalius orientalis)9. The Golden loaches (Sabanejewia aurata) (red-listed in Armenia)10. Cobitis11. The Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) (climate-accustomed)12. The stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva) (climate-accustomed)13. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (flowing from fish farms)14. The Kamchatkan rainbow trout (Parasalmo mykiss) (flowing from fish farms).• The length of SHPP metallic pipeline is 1150m, according to the PSRC and 1260 m according to the company, while its diameter is 2000mm, according to the PSRC and the company. Reclaiming hasn't been carried out.• The following SHPPs are constructed on the Agstev River: 'Agshtev1' SHPP (length of derivation pipeline, according to the project – 5428 meters), 'KEnergy SHPP'(length of derivation pipeline, according to the PSRC – 865 meters), 'Kock' SHPP (length of derivation pipeline, according to the PSRC – 1150 meters). The aggregate length of all SHPP derivation constructed on the river makes up 7.51% as compared with the river length.• According to the water usage permit, "Kock" SHPP can carry out water intake within 12 months from river ensuring the environmental flow of 1.08 cum/s. At the moment of observation, the environmental flow was ensured in the river through fish passway and the extra yield let out of the dam, which was regulated with a valve. The valve also regulated the amount of environmental flow.• There is no water-meter for the calculation of the environmental flow.• The generator is a synchronous one.• There are three hydroaggregates of local 'Khorda' model installed in the SHPP building, out of which two were only operating.• There is semi-automated management system.• Automated management of water level is not ensured.• The transformer substation is fenced, there is one transformer installed, which is not equipped with oil-collecting system.• The station area is not greened.• Requirements posed to fertile soil layer preservation and use are complied with.• There are no landslides and violation of landscape.• Requirements of free water usage are complied with.• The SHPP hasn't undergone environmental impact assessment.• There was garbage collected in the exit and entrance parts of the SHPP water intake section, which was due to water flow, as the SHPP representative claimed. There was no water-proof well.• According to the company, the SHPP doesn't generate problems with the irrigation.• The SHHP employs six people.• SHPP noise doesn't disturb people.• The SHPP has been constructed with the funds of German KfW Bank.

Proposals

- The reconstruction of the fish passway is needed for the purpose of ensuring the natural movement of all fish species of different sizes (particularly that of small fish species) and constant environmental flow to ensure relevant slope, as well as it is necessary to construct another stair at the beginning of the fish passway near the river surface. - To install a cellular net at the entrance of the pipeline to hinder the flow of young fish into the pipeline.- To equip water-intake section with automated management, online supervision systems, and water-measuring devices, which will enable to regulate and control the water amount used by the SHPP and the amount of the set environmental flow.- To re-equip the SHPP with aggregates, which will have an entirely automated management system, will supervise water amount in the water intake section and the amount of the environmental flow.- To regularly carry out the collection and removal of garbage accumulated in the water intake section in the areas beyond water-covered areas and organize its transfer.- To carry out the discharge of the wastewater through a water-proof well or a 'mini' cleaning station.- To equip the transformers with an oil-collecting system.According to RA Law 'On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise', which says that SHPPs with up to 1 MW capacity are not subject to environmental impact assessment, 'Kock' SHPP hasn't undergone environmental impact expert assessment, nevertheless, the construction and operation of 'Kock' SHPP has a significant impact on the environment with its enormous water intake section constructed along the entire width of the river and taking 10.0 cum/s water from the river. It's proposed to envisage a clause in the provisions of the law, according to which all the HPPs to be constructed on the river will be subject to expertise.

The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting new reforms in SHPP sector through CSO-government dialogue” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme".

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